Cross-country hike for PTSD set for 3.5 years

Eli smith an Ernesto Rodriguez are walking across America to raise awareness for PTSD, and both Eli and Ernesto have served in the military. Eli will be walking 13,000 miles and Ernesto will be walking 2,200
Aaron Bedoya / El Paso Times

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Eli Smith is currently on a 13,000 mile cross-country hike around the country to raise awareness for PTSD.(Photo: Aaron Bedoya / El Paso Times)Buy Photo

A photo posted by 4cornershike (@4cornershike) on Nov 22, 2016 at 12:37pm PST

Describing Eli’s daily motivation for the hike, he uses his lost friends who served as a catalyst for the estimated 3 ½ year walk.

“[PTSD] started ringing in my social circles,” said Smith. “After losing friends who I served with, it became a higher calling for me.”

He'll go to four-corners of the country: San Diego, Washington, Maine and will conclude the hike back in Key West, totaling 13,000 miles.

With 900-plus days on the road, the journey does not come without its fair share of weird. Eli described an attempted abduction 5 miles east of Menard, Texas, where a female in her 50s named Meri in a silver Ford F-350 truck continuously asked him the same question and pulled him over three times.

He managed to get signal on his phone on the back-road and dialed 911, all while getting threats from her on not being found in time before the sheriff arrives.

"I'm stopped in the middle of the road, and she tells me to get in saying they have a dinner and a news team waiting for me at a church," said Smith. "After the sheriff came, she veered off some road and he couldn't find her."

A photo posted by 4cornershike (@4cornershike) on Jan 9, 2017 at 10:00pm PST

Communicating through social media, Ernesto Rodriguez met up with Eli in Midland, Texas. Rodriguez mentioned the terrain traveling west from Midland being dangerous if you’re alone. Rodriguez has already dealt with a coyote trailing him and being clipped by a semi on the highway.

Ernesto will be traveling 2,200 miles, almost 11,000 miles shorter than Eli's trip. He started in Clarksville, Tennessee and will end up in Los Angeles.

Mentioned why he chose 2,200 miles, he said the number is symbolic of the 22 veterans committing suicide each day, due to PTSD. Unlike Eli, who accepts monetary donations, Ernesto, just asks for a meal, and if in the city, a hotel room.

"I feel the message gets around a little stronger if I do it and advocate it without your money," said Rodriguez.